Jennifer Parks. Photo by Don Usner
LANL Foundation Names Jennifer Parks as New CEO
Española — Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) Foundation announces that its board of directors has named Jennifer Parks as the next Chief Executive Officer effective mid-January, 2015.
She will assume the role currently held by Susan Herrera, who announced earlier this year her plan to retire after 17 years as its founding director.
Parks joins the LANL Foundation from the New Mexico Community Foundation (NMCF), where since 2010 she has served as President and CEO, guiding the organization in its mission to support New Mexico’s most underserved communities, strengthen nonprofits and grow philanthropy by connecting donors to valuable projects and vulnerable communities.
Under Parks’ leadership, NMCF awarded $17 million in grants and scholarships to nonprofits and individuals throughout New Mexico, launched initiatives in statewide giving and increasing opportunities for women and girls, managed several emergency funds, acted as fiscal sponsor for approximately 50 nonprofits, and grew the endowment from $12 million to over $18 million, with $26 million in total assets. She is also a leader in the collaboration with five major community foundations to investigate shared efficiency and statewide impact.
Prior to joining NMCF, Parks served as Project Manager and New Mexico, Arizona and Utah State Director for The Trust for Public Land, a national land conservation organization. She also has experience as a real estate attorney and commercial real estate developer in Austin, Texas.
“The LANL Foundation board was looking for the next visionary leader to guide the LANL Foundation and its programs into the future,” said current CEO Susan Herrera. “Jenny’s experience and passion for education are a great match, and we look forward to building a continuum of success under her direction.”
Parks and Herrera will work in tandem at the LANL Foundation for a six-week period to ensure a smooth transition of leadership.
The LANL Foundation supports education in Northern New Mexico by leveraging partnerships, affecting policy and investing in three core projects, strategic in nurturing learning and human potential. First Born® is a relationship-based, prenatal-to-three home visitation program with an individualized curriculum that addresses the unique needs of first-time families and currently serves 15 out of 34 New Mexico counties.
Inquiry Science Education Consortium (ISEC) provides and refurbishes hands-on science kits for participating teachers and elementary classes, in addition to a robust professional development program that addresses curriculum and topics in advanced content and pedagogy. ISEC serves seven school districts, 40 schools, 450 teachers and 12,000 students across Northern NM. Los Alamos Employees’ Scholarship Fund, the largest scholarship pool in Northern New Mexico, has awarded nearly 1000 scholarships totaling $4.5 million since 1999. LANL Foundation manages $76 million in assets and has an operating budget of approximately $1 million.
“Through Susan’s passion and leadership, the Foundation has made a significant difference in the lives of thousands of children and young adults in New Mexico,” said LANL Foundation board chair Bill Wadt. “Jenny has full support from the board and staff, and we welcome her thoughtful approach to leading change and strengthening our programs that support education in Northern New Mexico.”
For more information, call 505.753.8890.
